The Good Samaritan Doesn't Go to Taco Bell

At church, Pastor Lee had a good message about the Good Samaritan. In fact, he planted a dude on the side of the road on the way to church who was supposed to attract people to see if they would stop to help him or not. Of course most people did not. It was a good message.

After church, Danny, Andrew, Mogan, and I talked about the story of the Good Samaritan. I'm such a studly dad that we broke it down, discussed the story in modern day life, etc. The kids really got it, as I soon found out.

After we went to the gym to go swimming, we went to Taco Bell for lunch. Good, wholesome, organic foods at reasonable prices.

As we were going through the car line, I heard this jeep trying to start. Over and over again it kept trying to start. In my elite-est self, I thought "Man, this is why I don't go to Taco Bell, doesn't surprise me some skell can't get their car started." Then, Danny said to me, "Hey Dad, shouldn't we help that person like the Good Samaraitan did?"

Ouch.

WDOML

It was a bad day. I'm a fairly confident person, sometimes prideful even. I believe I have what it takes or at the very least, I feel like if I'm motivated to do almost anything, I could accomplish it. I do not feel that way about parenting anymore. Today, I seriously question whether I have what it takes. By "question" what I mean is, I do not have what it takes. I do not know what to do. I know all the advice I would give to someone in my position- pray about it, read books, seek counsel of others, look for things to change, put myself in a place where God can change me. What if I honestly believe that for change to happen, someone besides myself has to make the changes? What do I do?

It takes two to argue. It takes two to fight. It is my choice to be frustrated. It is my choice to let my anger control me.

God, change me and change my son. Fix something which I believe is up to you to fix now. I am "turning it over" to You. I give up.

Snow

Yeah! It's spring! 5-8 inches of snow! Karen and I were outside playing yesterday (well, the boys and Emma might have been out there too) and the temperature dropped about 10 degrees while we were out there. And I awoke to no grass again and school canceled. The boys were disappointed about not being able to go to "Elijah, Mogan, and Cam's" house... Fun day at home!

Kristin left me...

...for the weekend to go to Cincinnati. She brought "the Jake" so I get to hang out with my two oldest boys. I've actually been looking forward to this weekend with them. Time for the three of us to hang out, make noises, drink beer, and eat pizza. Well, maybe not all of those things. They don't really like pizza...

God, I pray I will be a Godly father to these boys this weekend.

Over the Rhine...

...is a place in Cincinnati near the Downtown area. It is also a band that I used to follow that is from Cincinnati. They drive me nuts with their touchy feely-ness sometimes, but in general, I enjoy their music. I went to two or three of their Christmas concerts that were memorable concerts for me. They used to have a guitar player that is top notch who left the band- Ric Hordinski. Here is a link to some of his stuff which is phenomenal:

http://www.myspace.com/richordinskimusic

On Sunday, I wore a pink shirt to church, and a close friend (MB) told me "You couldn't pay me to wear that shirt." Well here is the next girliest thing I'll say- Over the Rhine has some of the prettiest songs I know. Check out this video...


Also, for a great cover of Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah, check this out:


And here is a video for the prettiest song I have ever heard:

"Stand By Me"

Jesus, who does?

For me, my friends came into my life when I was 14, not 12. We did not find a dead body along some train tracks or even have home lives that were the catalyst to make us lean on each other, but in the ups and downs of life I experience, knowing who I can count on when I need them is more valuable than anything I own. I know with one phone call, three people would start traveling in my direction.

God is that kind of friend to me in different ways. I use God too much like an ATM, taking out a portion when I want or need it, using what I've taken for all its worth, and then walking around with an empty wallet for a week until the next payday.

How is it that God made us with such a need for Him while at the same time giving us a choice. The choice for me is "will I let God change me today or not?" My job is to put myself in a spot where God can rip out the things inside of me that are wicked.

Stand By Me- who was the last person who saw you exactly as you were?

Songs I Love Lately

This list is a little scattered:

Why Go - Pearl Jam - Live at Lollapolooza July, 2007
The Idea of You - Dave Matthews Band - Live Tracks from Fenway Park
Love in this Club - Usher and Young Jeezy - Love in This Club

Ha- a rock song, a folk song, and a rap/R&B song...